the King
was represented by a board of Lords Justices: but the military
administration was in Tyrconnel's hands. Already the designs of the
court began gradually to unfold themselves. A royal order came from
Whitehall for disarming the population. This order Tyrconnel strictly
executed as respected the English. Though the country was infested by
predatory bands, a Protestant gentleman could scarcely obtain permission
to keep a brace of pistols. The native peasantry, on the other hand,
were suffered to retain their weapons. [166] The joy of the colonists
was therefore great, when at length, in December 1685, Tyrconnel
was summoned to London and Clarendon set out for Dublin. But it soon
appeared that the government was really directed, not at Dublin, but in
London. Every mail that crossed St. George's Channel brought tidings of
the boundless influence which Tyrconnel exercised on Irish affairs. It
was said that he was to be a Marquess, that he was to be a Duke, that he
was to have the command of the forces, that he was to be entrusted
with the task of remodelling the army and the courts of justice. [167]
Clarendon was bitterly mortified at finding himself a subordinate in
ember of that administration of which he had expected to be the head.
He complained that whatever he did was misrepresented by his detractors,
and that the gravest resolutions touching the country which he governed
were adopted at Westminster, made known to the public, discussed at
coffee houses, communicated in hundreds of private letters, some weeks
before one hint had been given to the Lord Lieutenant. His own personal
dignity, he said, mattered little: but it was no light thing that the
representative of the majesty of the throne should be made an object of
contempt to the people. [168] Panic spread fast among the English
when they found that the viceroy, their fellow countryman and fellow
Protestant, was unable to extend to them the protection which they had
expected from him. They began to know by bitter experience what it is to
be a subject caste. They were harassed by the natives with accusations
of treason and sedition. This Protestant had corresponded with Monmouth:
that Protestant had said something disrespectful of the King four or
five years ago, when the Exclusion Bill was under discussion; and the
evidence of the most infamous of mankind was ready to substantiate every
charge. The Lord Lieutenant expressed his apprehension that, if these
p